Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Australia is well endowed with mineral resources and the rare earths are no exception. The rare earths are a group of 17 chemical elements, known as the lanthanides which can be found at the bottom of the periodic table. They exhibit very similar chemistries which means that they tend to be difficult to separate from each other. They are important in that they find applications in many modern technologies essential for the energy transition, electrification of transport, consumer electronics and defence industries. Many governments around the world have classified the rare earths as critical minerals, not because they are rare and hard to find, but because the processing and refining of these elements into alloys that feed many end user applications is geographically concentrated, thus posing a risk to supply chains.
Australia has many significant rare earth deposits with one mine and processing facility already in operation and many projects at an advanced stage of development. Three national science agencies, under the auspices of the Australian Critical Minerals R&D Hub, have got together to explore the potential of less well defined and lower grade rare earth deposit. In this presentation you will hear from ANSTO, CSIRO and Geoscience Australia on how they are working together to define practical pathways towards exploitation of these resources
0:00 - Introduction
3:25 - Dr Karin Soldenhoff
32:50 - Dr Jessica Walsh
47:10 - Dr Mark Pearce
Australia is well endowed with mineral resources and the rare earths are no exception. The rare earths are a group of 17 chemical elements, known as the lanthanides which can be found at the bottom of the periodic table. They exhibit very similar chemistries which means that they tend to be difficult to separate from each other. They are important in that they find applications in many modern technologies essential for the energy transition, electrification of transport, consumer electronics and defence industries. Many governments around the world have classified the rare earths as critical minerals, not because they are rare and hard to find, but because the processing and refining of these elements into alloys that feed many end user applications is geographically concentrated, thus posing a risk to supply chains.
Australia has many significant rare earth deposits with one mine and processing facility already in operation and many projects at an advanced stage of development. Three national science agencies, under the auspices of the Australian Critical Minerals R&D Hub, have got together to explore the potential of less well defined and lower grade rare earth deposit. In this presentation you will hear from ANSTO, CSIRO and Geoscience Australia on how they are working together to define practical pathways towards exploitation of these resources
0:00 - Introduction
3:25 - Dr Karin Soldenhoff
32:50 - Dr Jessica Walsh
47:10 - Dr Mark Pearce
